The nectar of the small yellow-green flowers of Florida privet (Forestiera segregata) are quite attractive to pollinators of all sorts.
Florida privet flowers in the winter when migratory birds are looking for insects to eat, though flowering time is quite variable from plant to plant. Often, when flowering, the plant sheds all of its leaves. This marvelous macro photograph is the handiwork of Bob Montanaro. Visit, his blog, to see more pictures of bees visiting Florida privet.
We examined Florida privet in the landscape at the Environmental Learning Center, 255 Live Oak Drive, Vero Beach at our joint volunteer class on Saturday, February 8. It was mostly covered with free, new leaves, but a few leafless branches had flowers. Another Florida privet on the property was covered with flowers. Thank you to ELC Education Coordinator Heather Stapleton for this photograph.
Also known as wild olive or ink berry, this plant produces small blue-black fruits beloved by birds …
Left to its own devices, this plant ail grow into a small, multi-trunked tree with grayish bark …
Its small leaves sheer well …
Florida privet makes an excellent pest-free, drought-tolerant landscape plant for sun or shade. Copious flowering & fruiting, of course, depends on sun.
Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area 